The actress compared Sansa to Cersei Lannister (played by Lena Headey) admitting that she will do anything to protect her family

In a new interview, she teased an evil streak within the flame-haired heroine and hinted that her relationship with Jon Snow (Kit Harington) is fractured after he failed to thank her for saving him in the Battle of the Bastards.

Speaking about how Sansa is much-like Cersei, she explained: "They're both so family-obsessed and family-orientated, and will do anything for the people they love.

"I can totally see her becoming a Cersei and kind of driven mad by it, by the threats against her family. At the end of the day, that's why she does the things that she does, because she's terrified of losing the people she loves."

HBO

Game of Thrones: Sophie hinted that Sansa could become evil

HBO

Game of Thrones: Sansa is frustrated Jon doesn't recognise that she saved him on the battlefield

Sophie went on to tell Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore: "She'll stop at nothing to protect them. If that means becoming like a ruthless killer, leader, sadistic woman or evil lady, then so be it.

"I don't think it matters to her, and I can see Sansa swinging that way too."

Addressing the relationship between Sansa and Jon at the end of season six, the 21-year-old said: "I think she's frustrated – she's worked so hard, tirelessly to convince him that this is what the right battle plan was and he wouldn't listen to her.

"She ended up having to save him and yet he gets hailed as King of the North and he doesn't say a thing about Sansa saving him."